"He was the clear leader from the beginning," Pettine said of Hoyer on Wednesday. "We've maintained all along that if it was close, I would prefer to go with the more experienced player."

Both Hoyer and Manziel played poorly in a 24-23 exhibition loss at Washington on Monday. During that game, Manziel made an obscene gesture toward the Washington sideline and will likely be fined by the league.

"I need to earn a place in this offense. Nothing should be given to me and I completely understand that," Manziel said.

Steelers: Running backs Le'Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount will be charged with marijuana possession. Ross Township police said traffic officer Sean Stafiej pulled over a Chevrolet operated by Bell after Stafiej, who was on a motorcycle, noticed a strong odor of marijuana coming from the car. Stafiej found a 20-gram bag of marijuana in the car. "We are aware of the reports and still gathering information," a Steelers spokesman said.

Buccaneers: Tampa Bay released wide receiver Lavelle Hawkins, who played for offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford when Tedford was Cal's coach. Hawkins played just four games for San Diego last season.

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Bengals: Cincinnati and Vontaze Burfict agreed to a three-year extension that will pay the Pro Bowl linebacker a maximum of $20.05 million through 2017, a source said. He's making $570,000 this season with Cincinnati, which signed him as an undrafted free agent from Arizona State in 2012.

Former Minnesota Vikings center Mick Tingelhoff was nominated as the senior finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2015 class of inductees.

Retired Mike Carey, the first African-American referee to work a Super Bowl, said the "league respectfully honored my request not to officiate Washington. It happened sometime after I refereed their playoff game in 2006, I think. ... It just became clear to me where something disrespectful is happening, was probably not the best thing for me."